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Shipley schoolboy and Ilkley PCSO are honoured for bravery in national police awards

HONOURED: PCSO Darrin Thompson who has received a bravery award for tackling an armed robber

BRAVE: Schoolboy Jason D’Arcy who has been awarded for his courage. Left, PCSO Darrin Thompson

HONOUR: Jason D'Arcy and his dad pictured with Prime Minister David Cameron after a surprise visit to 10 Downing Street after the stabbing

A boy who managed to stagger home after being stabbed in a violent rampage in Shipley last night had a surprise meeting with the Prime Minister. Jason D'Arcy, then nine, suffered stab wounds that penetrated his chest and after being attacked by Natha

A schoolboy who was stabbed while playing in a Shipley skate park and a PCSO who tackled an armed robber have been honoured for their bravery.

Jason D'Arcy and PCSO Darrin Thompson were among the winners in the national Police Public Bravery Awards, run by the Association of Chief Police Officers.

Held at the Old Swan Hotel in Harrogate, the ceremony recognises have-a-go heroes and those who showed extreme bravery in the face of crime.

Jason was nine when an armed stranger approached him in the Carnegie skate park in Windhill, stabbing through the arm in an attempt to murder him last July.

His attacker Nathaniel Flynn had already murdered his elderly grandmother in a frenzied knife attack at her home.

He had deliberately aimed for Jason's heart, but the brave boy raised his arm to fend himself and despite having suffered a life threatening stab wound, he managed to return to his home where he collapsed in his doorway.

When paramedics and police officers arrived, Jason provided a detailed description of his attacker’s jeans which had a distinctive logo on the pockets. These jeans were later found at the attacker’s home and were a crucial piece of evidence to link him to the attack.

Jason’s description led police to a nearby address where they found the body of Flynn's grandmother Louisa Denby. He was captured, and is now serving a prison sentence of at least 24 years.

A police spokesman said: "In a video interview Jason provided the police with an account of the attack and later revisited the playground, taking officers to the exact spot where he was stabbed before leading them along his route home.

"Without Jason’s cool head and attention to detail, his attacker could have gone on to kill more."

PCSO Thompson, based at Ilkley Police Station, was on patrol in April last year when he and colleague, PC Tim Brown, responded to a robbery at the Burley-in-Wharfedale Post Office.

While PC Brown parked the patrol car, PCSO Thompson entered the Post Office where he saw two men in balaclava masks and armed with hammers carrying out the robbery. He grabbed one of the men and a struggle began.

The second robber, who had a lump hammer, began to hit PCSO Thompson.

PC Brown ran to assist his colleague, rugby-tackling the robber wielding the lump hammer. The struggle continued and both offenders broke free and began running towards a nearby getaway vehicle where the driver was waiting.

PC Brown once again managed to grab hold of the robber with the lump hammer and grappled him to the pavement, injuring himself in the process. PCSO Thompson joined in and the two officers managed to handcuff the robber.

He was struck several times by the lump hammer as he attempted to detain the robbers, but suffered no lasting injuries.

The man who was arrested was sentenced to 11 years in prison.

The award is considered annually by a selection committee with nominations submitted by chief officers in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland.

Chief Constable David Crompton, of South Yorkshire Police, said: "Policing in the UK has always been performed with the consent of the public and we simply could not do our job without their assistance.

"These acts often involve spur of the moment decisions which give little regard to the individual's own safety often placing them at the very heart of danger."